PM Transcripts

FCR FRB-S: -NOI7V 1967
LR A P. M. No. 114/ 13 7
FUNERP L CF MR. SHIGERU YOSHIDA
Statement by the l: ime Mnister, Mr. Harold 1-7ct
The Honourable Gordon Freeth, Minister for Shiring and
Transport, w'll represent the P ustral'an Government at the funeral of
the late Mr. Shigeru Yoshida, former Prime Minister of Japan. The
funeral w411 take place in Tokyo at 2. 00 p. m. on October 31st.
VWth Mr. Yoshida's death, one of the greatest of postwar
statesmen has passed from the scene. He dealt with the problems of
restoring Japan to its place in the peaceful community of nations with
great moral and political courage. He became Prime Minister in 1946
and continued to hold this office until 1953. During that period he laid
the foundations of Japan's postwar reconstruction and the firmness with
which democracy is now rooted in Japan owes a great deal to his inspiration.
For these achievements and for his personal qualities he earned the
devotion of the Japanese people and the respect of the whole world.
The Honourable Mr. Freeth has been a Member of the Parliament
since 1c, 40 and a Member of the Australian Government since 1958. He
has been Minister of the Interior and Minister for Works and, since
December, 1963, Minister for Shipping and Transport. Mr. Freeth
has represented Australia overseas as Leader of the Australian Delegation
at a meeting of the Consultative Committee of the Colombo Plan, held in
Djakarta in 1959, and was Leader of the Parliamentary Delegation to East
Asia which visited Japan in 1965,.
CANBERRA October, 1967.